The King`s visit

Why Did the U.S. Secretary of Commerce Penny Pritzker Visit the King of Rwanda?

January 29, 2016 02:43

Several Facebook friends asked me to comment on the visit to the King of Rwanda by the United States’ Secretary of Commerce, Penny Pritzker. In my view the reason for her visit is found in the speeches she made in Nigeria on 25 January 2016, and in Rwanda on the 27th.

In Nigeria where she stated:

“As Africa’s largest and fastest growing economy, Nigeria’s potential is huge. But with President Buhari’s election and the changing nature of global oil markets, this is a genuine moment of truth for the nation. President Buhari has assembled a capable and experienced economic team that is committed to making sure Nigeria remains “open for business.””

In Rwanda, she stated:

“While we continue to deepen our commercial relationships, our delegation arrived at a challenging moment. The United States has expressed its disappointment that President Kagame has chosen to run for a third term in 2017. We believe that respecting established term limits can strengthen democratic institutions and help build a vibrant and free society. This was among the many topics President Kagame and I discussed today.”